With this continuously evolving business landscape, companies must understand the need for flexibility in order to be successful and thrive. Systems and technologies need to be in place that not only meet these extreme market conditions, but continue to protect and prepare businesses for the changes that are coming down the road. Having to use systems that don't have the capability to adapt can force a company into a corner — making it difficult, if not impossible, to compete.

There is no greater need for flexibility than in a company's communications system. In the past, companies were forced to make extremely large investments in traditional phone systems, only to get stuck with out-of-date features, huge support fees, and no easy (or affordable) way out. With the appropriate planning and right solution, a communications system — whether a hosted VoIP or premises-based system — can deliver powerful, customer-centric functionality with the flexibility needed to keep up with change.

In this slideshow, Digium shares five ways a unified communications (UC) business phone system can help companies thrive in today's competitive climate.